Wire connector



7 March e, 1945. H} GORDON 23,70,725

WIRE CONNECTOR Filed Dec. 5, 1942 2 Sheets-sheaf. 1

March 6, 1945. -GORDQN 2,370,725

WIRE CONNECTOR Filed Dec. 3, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WWI 11 m 1101 Patented Mar. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE wnm CONNECTOR Herman L. Gordon, Silver Spring, Md. Application December a, 1942, Serial No. 467,769

tonnes.

The present invention has tor its object to provide an improved means for connecting members together mechanically. v

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved means for connecting electrical conductors together without the use of solder.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means for rapidly splicing together electrical conductors.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means for rapidly mechanically splicing or connecting electrical conductors in a, secure and rigid manner and which is so arranged that the connection may be readily reinforced with solder.

A further object oi this invention is to provide an improved means for rapidly providing an insulated connection for electrical conductors.

of greater radius than that of members I and 2. The normal spacing of the midpoint of edge I from opening 3 is somewhat less than the diameter of member I or 2, as shown in Fig. 1. v

The sleeve 5 is of substantial length so that a duplicate tongue 24 and an opening 23 can be provided thereon reversely positioned on the sleeve 5 with respect to tongue l4 and opening 3. with a major portion of the sleeve interveningbetween the two reversely positioned downstruck ton ues.

The openings 3 and 23 are formed generally oval in shape with the end portions thereoftapering in width 50 as to be of less width at the end A further object of this invention is to provide an improved means for mechanically, connecting an electrical conductor to a terminal.

The above and additional objects are realized in the structure described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in vertical section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2. r

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the connector member of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line III-11 of Fig. 1. I I

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical cross-sectional view showing a modification of the structure shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 3. V

Fig. 5 is a view in longitudinal vertical section showing a terminal member equipped with the improved connector structure.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the terminal member shown in Fig. 5.

Fi 7 is a view taken on line VIIVII of Fig. 9 corresponding to Fig. L'ShOWii'ig a modified structure.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line V111 VIII of Fig. 7. i

Fig. 9 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2, of the modified structure of Fig. '7.

In the above figures corresponding parts have like reference numerals.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, 3 is a connector member for mechanically joining elongated metallic wire members I and 2. Said connector member comprises a tubularelement of malleable but somewhat resilient metal having a downstruck tongue l4 positioned diametrically opposite and of slightly less width than an opening 3. The lower edge I of the downstruck tongue I4 portions than the" width of the downstruck tongues.

To connect the'membersl and 2, the end of each of said members is inserted in an end of tube 5 and is pushed past a downstruck tongue against the frictional pressure exerted thereon by edge I. The metal of tube 5 is preferably somewhat harder and more resilient than that of member I and 2 and the width of tongues I 4 and 24 is preferably such that the elastic limit of the metal of the tongues will not be exceeded by being pushed back by the ends of members I and 2. The light spring gripping action of the tongues on the ends of members i and 2 is alone insuilicient to bend said ends, but will be suflicient to cause edges I to bite" into the metal of said ends slightly.

When the ends have been pushed into the positionshown, for example, by the broken lines in Fig. 4, a pull in the outward direction on said ends will cause tongues l4 and 24 to bend the members I and 2 into holes 3 and 23, as shown in Fig. 1, and the elastic limit of both tongues 14 and 24 of members 5 and members I and 2 at the bends will be exceeded resulting in a permanent set in the position illustrated in Fig. 1. The tightness of the jammed condition will be determined by the length of the free ends and the size and relative location of holes 3 and 23 with respect to tongues l4 and 24 respectively. Preferably said holes are as small as possible and as close to the tongue edges 1 consistent with the size and bendingstrength of members I and 2 to permit jamming the end portions of said members into holes 3 and 23. In the optimum condition the upper surfaces of the bent wires will have surface engagement with the upper wall of the tube adjacent the-wire ends, line engagement with edges of the tongues, and the lower surface of the bent wire will be jammed against the diametrically opposed edges is formed as an arc of a circle and is preferably u 01' holes 3 and 23 in the plane of the wire bend,

- walls of opening 3'.

as shown in Fig. 1, resulting in a connection wherein no looseness or lost motion exists.

Fig. 4 shows the connector used with an insulating sleeve iii. In this embodiment the metal .connector sleeve 5 isprovided with a'sleeve iii of insulating material. A splice incorporating the insulated connector of Fig. 4 will not require taping with insulating fabric as at present practised in the art of splicing electrical conductors. The sleeve It may extend somewhat beyond the ends of metallic sleeve 5 so as to overlap the edges of the insulation on members I and 2, where such insulation is used, to provide more positive insulation of the finished splice.

Figs. 5 and 6 show my invention as applied to a terminal lug for connecting a wire I I to a binding post screw l2. In this embodiment the lug comprises a washer portion i3 and a sleeve portion Ii, said sleeve portion being provided with a downstruck tongue 44 positioned opposite the opening 83 in sleeve IS. The bent portion 4| of wire H ha been jammed into opening 33 by tongue 44 on being moved back by a pull on wire II.

In the embodiments of Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 the joint may be reinforced by soldering if so desired. Solder may be introduced through opening 8 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 or I 6 in Fig. 5. The use of solder is illustrated at 20 in Fig. 5.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 the tongue i4 is slotted at 21 to permit portions 28 and 29 to be resiliently squeezed together slightly. Opening 3' in sleeve 5' is provided with ratchet elements 3] which are adapted to engage portions 28 and 29 respectively as tongue i4 is pulled into vertical position by outward movement of member i and compress portions 28 and 29 until tongue i4 has been drawn p'ast ratchet members 3i at which time portions 28 and 29 are released and expand into recesses 32 in the side Tongue member I4 is thus securely locked in gripping position firmly engaging the bent surface of member I and retaining it in the jammed position.

As in the embodiments of Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6,

solder may be introduced through opening 6 to reinforce the joint.

Tongue member i8 is slightly tapered downwardly to prevent excessive bending in the plane of the tongue as contact is made with ratchet members 3 I The tapering of said tongue reduces the twisting moment acting on members 28 and 28 and allows the shearing stresses which are developed in the tongue to be absorbed in the wider upper portion of the tongue.

A plurality of ratchet members: 3| may be provided along the walls of opening 3' to permit the use ofthe connector with a range of sizes of member i and within the scope of-this embodiment. In addition, the walls of opening 3 may have an inward taper to insure contact of the portions 28 and 28 with the ratchet members 3|.

It is contemplated that the wire members with which my improved connector is used may be either single ply or of the stranded typ I do not wish to be limited in my protection by the specific embodiments disclosed but rather by the structure defined by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Means for securing together a plurality of members comprising an element on one of said members for receiving at least another of said members, said element having cooperating tongue and socket means, said tongue and socket means having cooperative locking structure formed and arranged to lockingly grip said another of said members in response to an outward pull on onewith respect to the other of said members to hold said members against relative inward or outward movement, said tongue and socket means being further provided with structure for maintaining the tongue in looking position made effective by said outward pull.

2. As an article of manufacture, a connector comprising a tubular member, connecting means integral with one end of said tubular member, a gripping element secured in the tubular member and extending toward said end and socket means in said tubular member positioned opposite said element, said gripping element and socket means being provided with cooperating structure to maintain the gripping element in gripping p tion at times.

3. As an article of manufacture, a connector comprising a tubular member, connecting means integral with one end of said tubular member, an inclined element secured in said tubular member extending toward said end and socket means in said tubular member positioned opposite said element, said inclined element and socket means being provided with cooperating structure to maintain the inclined element in a locked position with respect to the socket means at times.

4. As an article of manufacture, a connector comprising a tubular member, connecting means integral with one end of said tubular member, an inclined resilient tongue struck downwardly within said tubular member extending toward said end and socket means formed in said tubular member opposite said downwardly struck tongue, said downwardly struck tongue and socket means being provided with cooperating structure to maintain the tongue in a locked position with respect to the socket means at times.

5. Means for securing together a plurality of members comprising a sleeve fixed on one of said members for receiving at least another of said members, said sleeve containing cooperating tongue and socket means, said tongue and socket means having cooperative locking structure formed and arranged to lockingly grip said another of said members in response to an outward pull on one with respect to the other of said members to hold said members against relative inward or outward movement, said tongue and socket means being further provided with structure for maintaining the tongue in looking position made efiective by said outward pull.

6. Means for securing together a plurality of members comprising a sleeve fixed on one of said members for receiving at least another of said members, said sleeve containing a downwardly struck tongue extending in the forward direction of insertion of said another of said members and being formed and arranged to engage a surface of said another of said members upon insertion thereof with spring pressure and biting action to oppose withdrawal of said another of said members, socket means formed in the wall of said sleeve located opposite said forwardly extending tongue, said tongue being formed and arranged with respect to said socket means to push a portion of said another of said members lockingly into said socket means and be thereafter maintained in looking position with respect to said socket means upon withdrawal movement of said another of said members to hold said members against relative inward or outward movement.

7. Means for connecting a wire end to a conment of said wire end and to urge the wire end into locking engagement with-a wall of said sleeve element, said wall and said tongue being provided with cooperating structure for thereafter maintaining the tongue in locking position.

8. Means as recited in claim '7, the wall of said sleeve element being provided with receiving means to receive a portion of the wire end.

9. Means for connecting a wire end to a connector member comprising a tubular sleeve form ing part of said connector member for receiving said wire end, an inclined resilient tongue struck down in said sleeve and extending inwardly of said sleeve, the bottom edge of said tongue located so as to contact said wire end and to exert light spring pressure thereon as the wire end is inserted into said sleeve and pushed past the tongue, an opening provided in the wall of said sleeve opposite said tongue, said tongue and opening being formed and arranged so that the tongue will bite into the surface of the wire and upon retraction movement of said wire end and will urge a portion of the wire'end into the opening to lock the wire end to the connector, the tongue and the opening being provided with cooperating locking means to maintain the tongue in lockingv position in the opening.

HERMAN L2 GORDON. 

